What CD player?
Discussion
We have just unboxed our CD collection that we have amassed over 25 years, but we don't have a player anymore.
So, for budget of £150-200 should we go new:
TIBO TI435 Hi-Fi CD Player
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TI435-CDP-Player-Remote-C...
or old school
Marantz CD63 MK2 signature edition Ken Ishiwata
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325160346881?chn=ps&...
So, for budget of £150-200 should we go new:
TIBO TI435 Hi-Fi CD Player
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TI435-CDP-Player-Remote-C...
or old school
Marantz CD63 MK2 signature edition Ken Ishiwata
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325160346881?chn=ps&...
I'd be wary of the Tibo; it may be fine, but other Tibo products; in particular the DAB tuner, had a poor reliability record judging from older reviews, (and I ended up throwing mine away). I remember thinking that most of the budget had been spent on the casing (impressively robust) rather than the electronics.
That Amazon item also seems to be picking up reviews meant for other things?
That Amazon item also seems to be picking up reviews meant for other things?
The Tibo gives me the impression of being a bit of a lash-up product. I'd give that one a swerve and opt for a good used machine instead.
ARCAM DiVA CD73
Roksan Kandy KC-1
Linn Mimic
These are all high-end players going for a song. Some squeeze in just under £200.
There's any number of Marantz, Denon, Sony, Yamaha players all tipping in at under 100 and some NAD and Rotel between 100 and 200.
DVD and Blu-ray players usually make for crap CD players. The mainstream stuff from the likes of Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic is/was made to compete head-to-head with other video product. Audio in 2ch analogue and even in stereo PCM were very much at the back of the queue compared to compressed bitstream multichannel. There's just too much jitter. I'd leave basic DVD and BD players well alone for stereo music.
There are some ecxceptions though. ARCAM, Rotel, high-end Denon, Oppo and high-end Panasonic all built DVD/BD players where stereo audio playback was given a big chunk of the budget.
Some of the ARCAM FMJ DVD players would give a 300- 400 dedicated CD player from Denon, Marantz, Sony a damned good run for its money. Since these ARCAMs are seen primarily as DVD players and so out-of-fashion they get overlooked and underpriced for what they can do as a CD player.
ARCAM DiVA CD73
Roksan Kandy KC-1
Linn Mimic
These are all high-end players going for a song. Some squeeze in just under £200.
There's any number of Marantz, Denon, Sony, Yamaha players all tipping in at under 100 and some NAD and Rotel between 100 and 200.
DVD and Blu-ray players usually make for crap CD players. The mainstream stuff from the likes of Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic is/was made to compete head-to-head with other video product. Audio in 2ch analogue and even in stereo PCM were very much at the back of the queue compared to compressed bitstream multichannel. There's just too much jitter. I'd leave basic DVD and BD players well alone for stereo music.
There are some ecxceptions though. ARCAM, Rotel, high-end Denon, Oppo and high-end Panasonic all built DVD/BD players where stereo audio playback was given a big chunk of the budget.
Some of the ARCAM FMJ DVD players would give a 300- 400 dedicated CD player from Denon, Marantz, Sony a damned good run for its money. Since these ARCAMs are seen primarily as DVD players and so out-of-fashion they get overlooked and underpriced for what they can do as a CD player.
Edited by Lucid_AV on Monday 23 May 16:44
Lucid_AV said:
The Tibo gives me the impression of being a bit of a lash-up product. I'd give that one a swerve and opt for a good used machine instead.
ARCAM DiVA CD73
Roksan Kandy KC-1
Linn Mimic
These are all high-end players going for a song. Some squeeze in just under 200.
There's any number of Marantz, Denon, Sony, Yamaha players all tipping in at under 100 and some NAD and Rotel between 100 and 200.
DVD and Blu-ray players usually make for crap CD players. The mainstream stuff from the likes of Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic is/was made to compete head-to-head with other video product. Audio in 2ch analogue and even in stereo PCM were very much at the back of the queue compared to compressed bitstream multichannel. There's just too much jitter. I'd leave basic DVD and BD players well alone for stereo music.
There are some ecxceptions though. ARCAM, Rotel, high-end Denon, Oppo and high-end Panasonic all built DVD/BD players where stereo audio playback was given a big chunk of the budget.
Some of the ARCAM FMJ DVD players would give a 300- 400 dedicated CD player from Denon, Marantz, Sony a damned good run for its money. Since these ARCAMs are seen primarily as DVD players and so out-of-fashion they get overlooked and underpriced for what they can do as a CD player.
Some good recommendations there, and some real lookers too. ARCAM DiVA CD73
Roksan Kandy KC-1
Linn Mimic
These are all high-end players going for a song. Some squeeze in just under 200.
There's any number of Marantz, Denon, Sony, Yamaha players all tipping in at under 100 and some NAD and Rotel between 100 and 200.
DVD and Blu-ray players usually make for crap CD players. The mainstream stuff from the likes of Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic is/was made to compete head-to-head with other video product. Audio in 2ch analogue and even in stereo PCM were very much at the back of the queue compared to compressed bitstream multichannel. There's just too much jitter. I'd leave basic DVD and BD players well alone for stereo music.
There are some ecxceptions though. ARCAM, Rotel, high-end Denon, Oppo and high-end Panasonic all built DVD/BD players where stereo audio playback was given a big chunk of the budget.
Some of the ARCAM FMJ DVD players would give a 300- 400 dedicated CD player from Denon, Marantz, Sony a damned good run for its money. Since these ARCAMs are seen primarily as DVD players and so out-of-fashion they get overlooked and underpriced for what they can do as a CD player.
Edited by Lucid_AV on Monday 23 May 16:44
A couple of important questions have not been asked.
What do you have in the rest of your system (speakers, amp, DAC (if you have one)) and do you plan to upgrade any of it in the future?
It's pointless buying a hugely capable CD player and / or DAC if the rest of your system isn't going to do it justice.
If you already have a DVD or BluRay player, I'd just buy a decent DAC, something from the Topping range as has been suggested (but again, this depends on the rest of your system).
What do you have in the rest of your system (speakers, amp, DAC (if you have one)) and do you plan to upgrade any of it in the future?
It's pointless buying a hugely capable CD player and / or DAC if the rest of your system isn't going to do it justice.
If you already have a DVD or BluRay player, I'd just buy a decent DAC, something from the Topping range as has been suggested (but again, this depends on the rest of your system).
TonyRPH said:
A couple of important questions have not been asked.
What do you have in the rest of your system (speakers, amp, DAC (if you have one)) and do you plan to upgrade any of it in the future?
Sorry I thought I had put that in - well I did on phone post that got corrupted!What do you have in the rest of your system (speakers, amp, DAC (if you have one)) and do you plan to upgrade any of it in the future?
Arcam FMJ A29 amp
Rega Planar 3
Acoustic Energy floorstanders
not desire to update.
I'm liking the idea of Arcam FMJ Dvd - thanks Lucid
FunkyGibbon said:
Sorry I thought I had put that in - well I did on phone post that got corrupted!
Arcam FMJ A29 amp
Rega Planar 3
Acoustic Energy floorstanders
not desire to update.
I'm liking the idea of Arcam FMJ Dvd - thanks Lucid
Just be mindful that the Arcam player is getting long in the tooth now, and reliability is less than legendary.Arcam FMJ A29 amp
Rega Planar 3
Acoustic Energy floorstanders
not desire to update.
I'm liking the idea of Arcam FMJ Dvd - thanks Lucid
Lasers / transports are available cheap for the Marantz players such as the CD63 / CD67 / CD17 etc. and IMHO would be a much better prospect than the Arcam (unless you specifically want a DVD player).
TonyRPH said:
Just be mindful that the Arcam player is getting long in the tooth now, and reliability is less than legendary.
Lasers / transports are available cheap for the Marantz players such as the CD63 / CD67 / CD17 etc. and IMHO would be a much better prospect than the Arcam (unless you specifically want a DVD player).
Thanks - I do quite fancy the Marantz CD63 refurbished. IIRC it was the dogs at the time. I do not need a DVD player.Lasers / transports are available cheap for the Marantz players such as the CD63 / CD67 / CD17 etc. and IMHO would be a much better prospect than the Arcam (unless you specifically want a DVD player).
wormus said:
Have you thought about ripping them to ALAC/FLAC using a computer with a CD player?
We have and could easily stream as well.However, a bit like LPs, we are liking the idea of picking up the physical disc case and insert the cd - the (good) old days.
Lets not start on cassette...
FunkyGibbon said:
We have and could easily stream as well.
However, a bit like LPs, we are liking the idea of picking up the physical disc case and insert the cd - the (good) old days.
Lets not start on cassette...
I get it, I’ve just dug out my cassette collection to play in my old Saab. It’s got auto reverse, Dolby and everything!However, a bit like LPs, we are liking the idea of picking up the physical disc case and insert the cd - the (good) old days.
Lets not start on cassette...
FunkyGibbon said:
Thanks - I do quite fancy the Marantz CD63 refurbished. IIRC it was the dogs at the time. I do not need a DVD player.
The CD 63 looks very good value - but lots on eBay are parts only, suggesting reliability might be an issue. I have the the Marantz CD50SE which sells for more and is a different league to Pansonic Blue ray players I have for CDs.bcr5784 said:
The CD 63 looks very good value - but lots on eBay are parts only, suggesting reliability might be an issue. I have the the Marantz CD50SE which sells for more and is a different league to Pansonic Blue ray players I have for CDs.
There are 2 versions of the CD63 - the original top loader (most are around 35+ years old now) and the CD63 MKii which is about 30 years old.The MK II version is very reliable, and lasers are readily available for around £10 - although some replacements don't always fit well.
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